Oil sludge is not easily recognizable and if not acted upon, it can greatly harm the engine. Dirt, coolant or even debris in the engine oil changes the liquid into a thick and black sludge that hinders the usual performance of the engine.
Why Does Oil Turn to Sludge?
Frequent stop and go driving, using low quality oil, overheating engines and other factors make the oil to break down more quickly if the engines top temperature is frequently exceeded. Coolant leaks are also to blame, which point to other problems such as a blown head gasket or damaged cylinder.
Warning Signs of Oil Sludge
Look out for low oil pressure, grinding noise, a slow dripping off of the oil during the change, or a blocked oil filter. All of these signs point towards contaminated oil and handling them when they appear can prevent serious damage to your engine.
Protect Your Engine
The next suggestion is pretty obvious that the vehicle should be oiled regularly. Fully synthetic oils are good for up to 10,000 miles but mostnormal car engines are usually recommended to have their oil changed between 3,000-5,000 miles. This is a good way to avoid getting ambushed with large repair bills all at one time.
